Dezeen » Caruso St Johnhttp://www.dezeen.com
architecture and design magazineSun, 02 Aug 2015 20:00:09 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2Caruso St John to "restructure" Asplund's Stockholm City Libraryhttp://www.dezeen.com/2014/12/30/caruso-st-john-architects-restructure-restoration-stockholm-city-library-erik-gunnar-asplund/
http://www.dezeen.com/2014/12/30/caruso-st-john-architects-restructure-restoration-stockholm-city-library-erik-gunnar-asplund/#commentsTue, 30 Dec 2014 12:37:30 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=620450News: British architecture studio Caruso St John has won a competition to restore and expand one of Sweden's most significant 20th century buildings – the Stockholm City Library by Swedish architect Erik Gunnar Asplund. Caruso St John will pick up the baton for the library project, which has been on hold since 2009, after being […]

]]>News: British architecture studio Caruso St John has won a competition to restore and expand one of Sweden's most significant 20th century buildings – the Stockholm City Library by Swedish architect Erik Gunnar Asplund.

Caruso St John will pick up the baton for the library project, which has been on hold since 2009, after being selected as "the most qualified" firm for the task of developing one of Sweden's most important public buildings.

Unlike the previous scheme – which was scrapped following funding issues and protests from heritage groups – Caruso St John's design is being pitched as a "restoration and restructure", rather than an entirely new extension.

The studio's proposal focuses on the reorganisation of the building's internal spaces, which will be re-planned to help the library adapt to contemporary demands.

"The project will involve work to the annex and bazaars as well as to the main building, and will be carried out in collaboration with Scheiwiller Svensson Arkitektkontor," said a statement from Caruso St John.

Work is expected to start on the building in 2017, and be completed by 2019.

"Asplund has always been a central reference for our work, as an important figure who managed to reconcile the demands of modernity with the city, and as an exceptional designer and builder," Adam Caruso, co-founder of the firm, told Dezeen. "It is a privilege for us to work in what is probably his masterpiece. We are also looking forward to collaborating with an incredibly dynamic public institution."

This image: photograph by Peter Guthrie. Top image: image courtesy of Shutterstock

Inaugurated in 1928, Stockholm City Library was designed by Erik Gunnar Asplund to be one of the world's most modern and accessible libraries and was the first in the country to offer public access to the stacks.

The orange structure is considered an exemplar of Nordic Classicism – a pre-war movement that was instrumental in the development of Modernism in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

The design was influenced by Asplund's study tour of America's public libraries. The main lending library is housed in a cylinder in the middle of the building, accessed via a grand staircase, and is surrounded by three wings with flat roofs.

The building has remained popular with residents but has struggled to keep up with the changing behaviours of library users and an increase in footfall from the nearby Odenplan plaza. It is now also in need of major maintenance work, according to the city.

Photograph by Wojtek Gurak

In 2007, German architect Heike Hanada won one of the largest ever open architecture competitions to design an extension to the library – a project that then had an estimated budget of £60 million.

Hanada, an architecture teacher at the Bauhaus University in Weimar, was selected from 1,160 entries by a jury that included Adam Caruso, co-founder of Caruso St John. But the scheme was scrapped in 2009.

"The politicians say that it is too expensive. That is the official reason. But there is discussion on whether this is true," Annika Jensfelt, an editor of the Swedish Association of Architects' magazine Arkitekten told architecture newspaper BD in 2009. "Important cultural people have debated it, saying it is spitting on Asplund. Perhaps this is the true reason."

"Caruso St John Architects is most qualified for the task. They have a recognised expertise in working with cultural and historical buildings and public buildings containing cultural activities," said Juan Copovi-Mena, Stockholm City's property director.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2014/12/30/caruso-st-john-architects-restructure-restoration-stockholm-city-library-erik-gunnar-asplund/feed/7Caruso St John's gallery for Damien Hirst set for spring 2015 openinghttp://www.dezeen.com/2014/07/23/newport-street-gallery-damien-hirst-caruso-st-john/
http://www.dezeen.com/2014/07/23/newport-street-gallery-damien-hirst-caruso-st-john/#commentsWed, 23 Jul 2014 17:24:37 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=503154News: a new London gallery housing the collection of British artist Damien Hirst is set to open next spring in a row of converted and extended theatre warehouses by Caruso St John Architects. The Newport Street Gallery, which will stretch along an entire street in Vauxhall, is being designed by London and Zurich-based firm Caruso […]

The Newport Street Gallery, which will stretch along an entire street in Vauxhall, is being designed by London and Zurich-based firm Caruso St John to house over 2,000 artworks owned by Damien Hirst, including pieces by Francis Bacon and Jeff Koons.

The converted warehouses, formerly used for theatre carpentry and scenery production, will have their first floors moved upwards to create a more logical relationship with the existing windows, creating a series of lofty rooms that can be used as offices.

The two new structures will follow the same proportions and will feature solid facades built from black engineering bricks.

Long section through the five buildings

Hirst plans to use the spaces to host a mixture of small and large exhibitions. Other works on show from his private collection will include pieces by British artists Sarah Lucas and Banksy.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2014/07/23/newport-street-gallery-damien-hirst-caruso-st-john/feed/2Tate Britain Millbank renovation by Caruso St John completedhttp://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/19/tate-britain-millbank-renovation-caruso-st-john/
http://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/19/tate-britain-millbank-renovation-caruso-st-john/#commentsTue, 19 Nov 2013 17:39:49 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=388211Architecture firm Caruso St John has completed a £45 million renovation of London's Tate Britain art gallery, which includes a spiral staircase descending to new underground classrooms. Following the opening of ten new exhibition spaces at the gallery earlier this year, Caruso St John has overhauled the oldest parts of Tate Britain's Millbank building to […]

]]>Architecture firm Caruso St John has completed a £45 million renovation of London's Tate Britain art gallery, which includes a spiral staircase descending to new underground classrooms.

Following the opening of ten new exhibition spaces at the gallery earlier this year, Caruso St John has overhauled the oldest parts of Tate Britain's Millbank building to create new education and events rooms in spaces that were previously inaccessible to the public.

The new staircase spirals down from the centre of the domed rotunda, where a surface of monochrome terrazzo recalls the patterned mosaics of the original marble floor. As well as leading to new classrooms, it brings visitors down to the new Djanogly Cafe and renovated Rex Whistler restaurant, which features the restored 1920s mural The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats.

Main level rotunda with balcony above and staircase at its centre

A circular balcony around the rotunda had been closed since the 1920s, but has now been revamped to create a first-floor cafe and members lounge with a 14 metre-long bar.

Elsewhere on this floor, the architects removed partitions to reopen the interior of the Grand Saloon. An original Victorian ceiling has been restored and clustered pendant lights were added, creating a large space that can be used for events.

Members' area on the balcony

The project also included the reopening of the building's Thame-side entrance and the addition of a new dedicated entrance for school groups.

"The new Tate Britain opens up the Millbank entrance to reassert and enhance the original grandeur and logic of the galleries," said Tate Britain director Penelope Curtis. "Adam Caruso and Peter St John have created new spaces out of old and artists have helped to articulate a new sense of the public realm," she added.

Djanogly Cafe

Tate Britain first opened in 1897 as the Tate Gallery, showing a small collection of British art. Since then it has expanded to encompass four UK sites and over 70,000 artworks.

To commemorate the opening year, Caruso St John furnished the new gallery spaces with tables, chairs and benches by designers active during the British Arts and Crafts movement.

The new Tate Britain is unveiled to the public on 19 November 2013. The transformation of the oldest part of the Grade II* Millbank building by leading architects Caruso St John marks a significant moment for Tate Britain. The unveiling follows the opening in May 2013 of ten new galleries and new BP Displays, including the chronological presentation of Tate’s unparalleled collection of British art.

The new Tate Britain is being made possible with the support of The Manton Foundation; Heritage Lottery Fund; The Gatsby Charitable Foundation; Ronald and Rita McAulay; The Linbury Trust and The Monument Trust; Garfield Weston Foundation; Clore Duffield Foundation; The Taylor Family Foundation; The Porter Foundation; Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly; The Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation; The Wolfson Foundation; Tate Members and other individual donors.

South East Quadrant Gallery

The £45 million project includes:

» the reopening of the main entrance to Tate Britain on Millbank, combining new architectural features with the excavation of the most beautiful original architectural elements of the building. The changes restore the historical logic of the building and include a striking new spiral staircase inside the entrance opening up access to new public spaces below;

» the reopening of The Rex Whistler Restaurant, with its famous Rex Whistler mural, The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats 1926-7, fully restored; and the new Djanogly Café, opposite the restaurant, which opens onto an exterior terrace. Both serve food made with seasonal British ingredients;

» contemporary interpretations of tables and seating inspired by leading British Arts and Crafts designers active in the founding year of Tate Britain – 1897;

» new learning studios located throughout the gallery including a dedicated schools’ entrance and reception underneath the Millbank Entrance steps; and a new Archive Gallery, presenting temporary displays from Tate’s extensive archive of artists’ letters and ephemera. The first display by Paul Noble is inspired by the history of the Tate Britain site as a swamp and then a penitentiary;

» the opening of the circular balcony of the Rotunda’s domed atrium, closed to visitors since the 1920s, as an elegant new café and bar for Tate Members; and the Grand Saloon, a light-filled space overlooking the Thames created for seminars and events; and

» site-specific work to celebrate the transformation of Tate Britain by three contemporary artists: Richard Wright has designed handmade glass and leading for the eastern window in the Millbank foyer; Alan Johnston has created a ceiling drawing for the Djanogly Café; and Nicole Wermers has created a tea and coffee spoon for use in the Djanogly Café, Members Room and the Rex Whistler Restaurant.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/19/tate-britain-millbank-renovation-caruso-st-john/feed/3Gagosian Paris by Caruso St John and Jean-Francois Bodinhttp://www.dezeen.com/2010/09/09/gagosian-paris-by-caruso-st-john-and-jean-francois-bodin/
http://www.dezeen.com/2010/09/09/gagosian-paris-by-caruso-st-john-and-jean-francois-bodin/#commentsThu, 09 Sep 2010 15:33:39 +0000http://www.dezeen.com/?p=94750Gagosian are to open a new gallery in Paris, designed by London studio Caruso St. John and Paris architect Jean-Francois Bodin. The renovation of a former hotel will occupy four floors and is due to open on 20 October. Photographs are by Gautier Deblonde. Here are a few more details from the gallery: On October […]

Gagosian Gallery Paris is located in the 8th arrondissement, between Avenue Matignon and the Champs Elysees, in what is known as the ‘triangle d’or’.

Occupying 900 square meters on four levels, it has over 350 square meters dedicated to public exhibition space on two floors. The second floor will be used as a ‘project space’ where special exhibitions and collaborative projects will be presented. One of the gallery’s outstanding features is its rectangular main gallery measuring 12 meters by 9 meters with circa 5 meters height and a skylight of 6.50 by 3.50 meters.

The gallery was designed by the Paris based architect Jean-Francois Bodin in collaboration with the London based practice Caruso St. John. The renovation of the former hotel particulier has transformed the space into a state-of-the-art contemporary gallery while retaining its distinctive Parisian character.

Larry Gagosian comments: “I love the city of Paris and am delighted to be opening a gallery here. It is an historical capital of art and is reclaiming its position within the international art circuit through its high quality museum exhibitions and a growing art market.”

Opened in 1979 in Los Angeles by Larry Gagosian, Gagosian Gallery is considered as one of the world’s foremost modern and contemporary art galleries. With the addition of the Paris gallery, there are now nine galleries worldwide, including three in New York, one in Beverly Hills, two in London, one in Rome and one in Athens. Architects of the other galleries include Richard Gluckman (New York), Richard Meier (Beverly Hills), and Caruso St John (London).

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2010/09/09/gagosian-paris-by-caruso-st-john-and-jean-francois-bodin/feed/2Chiswick House Gardens cafe by Caruso St John Architectshttp://www.dezeen.com/2010/06/25/chiswick-house-gardens-cafe-by-caruso-st-john-architects/
http://www.dezeen.com/2010/06/25/chiswick-house-gardens-cafe-by-caruso-st-john-architects/#commentsFri, 25 Jun 2010 09:10:41 +0000http://www.dezeen.com/?p=84519Caruso St John Architects have installed this cafe in the grounds of an English 18th century villa. Top photo is by Richard Bryant Above photograph by Helen Binet The new cafe at Chiswick House Gardens inLondon is located to the east of the main house and provides seating for 80 people indoors and a further […]

The £12 million restoration of Chiswick House Gardens in London is unveiled today, 14 June 2010.

Chiswick House Gardens is a site of international importance both as the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement, and as the setting for one of the most beautiful houses in London. The regeneration of the gardens is a result of many years of campaigning, four years of fund-raising and two years of work on the site.

Above photograph by Richard Bryant

English Heritage (manager of the House) and the London Borough of Hounslow (owner of the Gardens) established The Chiswick House and Gardens Trust as an independent charity to drive forward an ambitious rescue plan for the Gardens and secure its future for the 21st century.

The garden restoration, managed by English Heritage, and supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £7.9 million, recovers the original vistas and design from decades of disrepair and underfunding, and also repairs and restores the statuary and garden buildings. The result is an inspiring balance between a historic landscape and a public park.

Highlights include the planting of over 1,600 trees, including trees propagated from the original 18th century cedars of Lebanon; the opening up of historic views from the Classic Bridge, the complete restoration of the 19th century conservatory housing a rare and internationally important collection of camellias; the planting of native trees and shrubs in the Northern Wilderness, and the restoration of the Walled Gardens, which will be open to the public on special days.

Above photograph by Richard Bryant

To complement the restoration, award-winning architects Caruso St John have designed a new café within the grounds, on a carefully chosen site close to Chiswick House on the east side. The new café provides indoor seating for 80 people and external seating for over 100, and forms the social hub for the park, with a newly created children’s playground beside it.

Chiswick House Gardens, spread over 65 acres, are known throughout the world as the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement and have inspired countless designed landscapes from Blenheim Palace in Oxford, to Central Park in New York. They were originally created by Lord Burlington and William Kent who worked on them throughout the 1720’s and 1730’s as a setting for Lord Burlington’s magnificent Chiswick House, the first and one of the finest examples of neo-Palladian design in England.

Above photograph by Clive Boursnell

Among the many famous features of the gardens are:

Lord Burlington and William Kent’s Western Lawn linking the House and lake, dating from the 18th century.

The Inigo Jones Gateway, acquired by Lord Burlington in 1738 from his friend Sir Hans Sloane;

The Cascade, an Italian renaissance-style waterfall designed by Burlington and Kent dating from around 1738;

Exedra, a lawn lined by alternating cypresses and stone urns closed by a semicircular dark yew hedge, forming a backdrop to Lord Burlington’s collection of ancient Roman and 18th century sculpture;

The Lake, crossed by an elegant stone bridge, in a design attributed to James Wyatt;

The Raised Terrace, planted with sweet shrubs including roses and honeysuckle which offers celebrated views of the Villa;

The Italian Garden, designed by Lewis Kennedy and laid out in 1814, an example of the 19th century experiments in colour theory;

The Conservatory, completed in 1813, with the oldest collection of camellias outside China and Japan.

The restoration of the gardens at Chiswick was made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, the London Borough of Hounslow, The Wolfson Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation and The Monument Trust, with additional support from many other individuals and organisations.

Chiswick House and Gardens Trust was set up in April 2005 between English Heritage and the London Borough of Hounslow under the Chairmanship of Rupert Hambro. The creation of the Trust unites the management of the site and its key role is to drive forward the improvements to Chiswick House and Gardens.